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Don Rhodes, after whom the museum is named, was a pioneer of the mining and transport industries in the Pilbara region, and was responsible for commissioning the first modern Australian built roadtrain.[1]

While working manganese leases, Rhodes initially used various English made trucks, but these could not cope with the task. He therefore arranged for his chief engineer, Harold Ridley, to design and build the 70 ton Rhodes Ridley roadtrain, a rig that, when it was completed in 1958, was capable of hauling the company's 100 ton crushing plants.[1]

However, the government of the day ultimately refused to license the Rhodes Ridley or even allow it to operate on gazetted roads. It had done barely 3,000 miles (4,800 km) by the time it was forced to retire.[1]

Three standard gauge locomotives are on display in the centre of the museum. Each of them previously operated on one or both of the mining railways that terminate at Port Hedland (the Goldsworthy railway and the Mount Newman railway).